When the call to drive at 30 kph in Nairobi, Kenya is necessary!

Bio: Constant Cap has a MasterÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He holds an undergraduate degree from the same university. He writes about urban planning issues online and in local dailies. Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya he passionate about the planning issues facing African Cities. He has a deep interest in sustainable transportation, urban resilience and new urbanism. He is also a Graduate Member of the Town and County Planners Association of Kenya. He has previously worked at the Strathmore University Advancement Office. He currently works as the Executive Director of Kilimani Project Foundation.

Over 1.24 million people die and between 20 and 50 million are injured on the worldÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s roads annually. The largest portion of this burden is borne by those living in low and middle income countries. In Kenya, over 3000 people die annually on Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â the roads and nearly double that are injured. A large number of these consist of a particularly vulnerable group, children. Most roads are unsafe and unattractive for pedestrians, Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â especially for children.

Many children Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â living in informal areas have to walk to school on a daily basis which entails crossing highways or busy arterial roads. A good example are children from Mathare Valley in Nairobi, who have to cross the very busy and dangerous Juja Road. Last year no less than 10 school children were involved in fatal accidents on the same road!

Some educational institutions have Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â implemented Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â measures Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â aimed at making the roads around their institutions safer for their students. The University of Nairobi Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â has a subway under the busy Uhuru Highway, Strathmore UniversityÃƒâ€šÃ‚Â constructed speed bumps on the public road that divides Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â its campus while Starehe Boys Centre and Pangani Girls school (both divided by major roads) have overhead crossings. City authorities have also put up speed bumps near some primary schools.

According to the National Transport and Safety Authority, there were about 2900 recorded pedestrian accidents in 2014. Although Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â reduced by 310 from 2013, the number is still high. As a result, the Kenyan parliament is working on passing an amendment to the Traffic Act that will see several changes in traffic and road management especially near schools.

The Highlights of the act include:

Curb traffic speeds at 30 Kph near schools, playgrounds and hospitals in Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â keeping with the global standard.

I like the vivo and lollipop safety projects along Jogoo rd.Every morning (not sure about the rest of the day) there has to be someone assisting adult and children using zebra crossing.I have also realized there are NTSA team (according to what is written on the reflector jackets) positioned at city stadium all day long, but my question is how comes pedestrian run across the road at that point comfortably in their presence instead of using the flyover?